While Secretary of State Jim Condos says Vermont’s vote-by-mail system has a safeguard in place to ensure that people casting ballots are who they say they are, town clerks on the front lines of elections say it’s not routine to check.
As election officials across the country consider how to keep voters healthy during the coronavirus pandemic, Vermont’s elections chief has plans to send all registered voters mail-in ballots for the general election. Voters who fear catching the virus at public polling places can opt to vote from home.
But critics of a universal vote-by-mail system say the the process lacks the safeguards in place for in-person voting. In Vermont, election law provides only one safeguard to prevent someone from casting a ballot fraudulently through the mail.
“[State] law currently requires the voter to place the voted ballot in a certificate envelope which requires a legible name and signature before being placed in the outer return envelope,” Condos told True North. “The certificate is filled out under the penalty of perjury, and it says so. It includes a statement that the voter voted in private and was not influenced by anyone.”
While it’s clearly illegal to commit voter fraud by mail, what’s less clear is how election officials catch someone who ignores the perjury warning and files a fraudulent vote anyway.
In any given presidential election, Vermont receives about 1,800 to 2,000 requests for mail-in ballots from overseas and military voters.
According to St. Johnsbury Town Clerk Stacy Jewell, there are no IDs required to register to vote, and not everyone has a signature on record to compare against ballots that are mailed back. Furthermore, it’s not a routine practice to check signatures to see if they match.
“No, we don’t [check]” she said.
There are other problems. Vermont’s voter rolls are flooded with the names of people who have moved away or died. Jewell said that presents challenges for operating a vote-by-mail election.
“If the mail gets forwarded and they’ve moved to another state and we don’t know it, we may not know any difference,” she said.
Asked if St. Johnsbury had any cases of vote-by-mail voter fraud during the previous election, Jewell replied, “Not that we would know. Like I said, you’re not gonna know.”
Condos, the person in charge of ensuring free and fair elections, doesn’t worry about voter fraud. He says it is “virtually nonexistent.” However, some election watchers who watch nationwide have documented over a thousand prosecuted cases of voter fraud. In addition, The Heritage Foundation notes that over 6 million absentee ballots went missing in the 2016 election alone.
Plainfield Town Clerk Linda Wells told True North that when it comes to voting by mail, there are three components involved: the ballot itself, the voted-ballot envelope and the postage-paid return envelope. The voted-ballot envelope is the component that could be used to verify the identity of the voter.
“They have to swear and affirm that they are registered in Vermont in the town that they are voting in, and they also have to sign below that they voted on that ballot and that they were not persuaded by someone else,” she said.
Wells said it’s not standard practice to check the signatures against other signatures to see if they match, however.
“It must be complete and signed or else it will not be counted. … We treat that as confirmation that it’s the voter,” Wells said.
St. Albans Town Town Clerk Anna Bourdon said if a signature looks suspicious, her office has copies of licenses and other material to compare signatures to. However, she added it’s not standard to check every signature.
“There are some voters that never vote, so we would check those,” she said.
Not everyone is convinced these protocols are enough. A recent poll of registered voters in Vermont found that more than half say election officials aren’t able to verify who is filling out mail-in ballots, and 71% said voter identification should be required for anyone to cast a vote. Condos argues that requiring identification is “voter suppression.”
Voting by mail has other pitfalls. The United States Postal Service is having extreme financial issues and may run out of money as early as the end of this summer. Condos said “our elections will be in jeopardy” if that happens.
In addition, the Public Interest Legal Foundation, which has released a research brief outlining national statistics for mail balloting failures, found that 28 million mail-in ballots have gone missing in the past decade.
Michael Bielawski is a reporter for True North. Send him news tips at bielawski82@yahoo.com and follow him on Twitter @TrueNorthMikeB.
As if the Town Clerks don’t have enough to do. Now they’re expected to verify EVERY mail-in ballot. Hey Jimmy Condos, whatever your smoking it isn’t working. Pathetic!!!
As an election official who has worked the polls for many years, I am struck by the absence of any discussion by SOS or those advocating for “absentee” voting, about the problem of “defective” ballots. If, for example, the voter – whoever that may be – fails to follow the instructions correctly for returning the voted ballot (e.g., failing to sign the certificate envelope (CE), or failing to place the voted ballot in the CE, or the voter identifies him/her self on the ballot, or, in the case of a “primary” election, the voter fails to return unvoted ballots & envelope, etc.) such ballots are declared DEFECTIVE and NOT COUNTED!! Plus now there is the added risk to our mostly elderly election officials of contracting C-19 from handling all those filthy envelopes and ballots! For these reasons, as well as those articulated so well by others here, I am against the mass-mailing of absentee ballots to voters. The system we have in place works just fine; leave it alone!
Here in Tn. we have to show ID when we enter the polling place. I do not mind showing mine at all.
FORGIVE MY CAPS FOR DIFFERENTIATION.
Willem post May 15, 2020 at 10:02 pm
Jay,
Condos and the rest are not interested in your recommendations.
WE’VE ALREADFY ESTABLISHED CONDOS’ INTEREST, IF NOT HIS CORRUPT PROGRESSIVE MOTIVE. THE ONLY WAY TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM IS TO ELECT A DIFFERENT SECREATARY OF STATE…UNLIKELY AS THAT MAY BE. IN ANY CASE, I WILL CONTINUE TO EXERCISE MY 1ST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO SPEAK OUT AND PETITION THE GOVERNMENT.
They are only interested in indiscriminate mass mailing of ballots to whomever is on flawed voter lists. WE’VE ALREADFY ESTABLISHED CONDOS’ INTEREST, IF NOT HIS CORRUPT PROGRESSIVE MOTIVE. THE ONLY WAY TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM IS TO ELECT A DIFFERENT SECREATARY OF STATE…UNLIKELY AS THAT MAY BE.
Those lists are flawed, per interviewed Town Clerks. INDEED. I CAN VOUCH FOR THE FLAED CHECKLIST IN MY TOWN OF WESTMINSTER, VT IN WHICH MY CHILDREN REMAINED ON THE CHECKLIST EVEN THOUGH THEY’D MOVED AWAY YEARS AGO. MY CHILDREN PETITIONED THE TOWN CLERK TO REMOVE THEM FROM THE LIST.
Whatever happens to these ballots after is anybody’s guess. WHATEVER HAPPENS TO ANYONE’S BALLOT, LEGITIMATE OR OTHERWISE, IS ANYONE’S GUESS. MY POINT IS TO MAKE THE CHECKLIST ACCURATE AND ABIDE BY IT AS DIRECTED BY THER LAW.
Anyway, who gives a damn. I DO.
The horse left the barn a long time ago. LET’S TRY, AT LEAST, TO PUT IT BACK IN THE BARN.
“A PEOPLE THAT VALUES ITS PRIVILEGES ABOVE ITS PRINCIPLES SOON LOSE BOTH.”
D.D. EISENHOWER
Re: “Hey Jay, You can’t leave your house by law? What are you going to do now? They close your business with no proof that you are ill or causing harm, what are you going to do now?” Neil Johnson
The first thing I did was read the law, Neil.
https://governor.vermont.gov/sites/scott/files/documents/ADDENDUM%206%20TO%20EXECUTIVE%20ORDER%2001-20.pdf
I have always been able to leave my house. And so too have you.
“Vermonters are directed to stay at home or in their place of residence, leaving only for essential reasons such as: personal safety; groceries or medicine; curbside pick-up of goods, meals or beverages; medical care; exercise; care of others; and work, as set forth further below.”….a broad allowance by any measure.
And while certain aspects of my business were required to cease, temporarily, not all aspects were prohibited. And there’s nothing new there. Just read the VOSHA regulations and the Vermont Employment Handbook if you want to see extensive limitations and regulations placed on employers. I’ve been living and breathing them for more than 40 years.
https://www.employmentlawhandbook.com/state-employment-and-labor-laws/vermont/
https://labor.vermont.gov/vosha/
But here’s the deal. We’re talking about mail-in voting. I repeat, we’re talking about MAIL-IN VOTING! If you can’t focus on one problem at a time, you’ll never solve anything.
I offered a process. It’s affordable. It isn’t complicated. Anyone can do it. And it will lead to an accurate and verifiable voter checklist. Aren’t you, at least, interested?
As I explained to Willem, there’s nothing we can do about people who choose to squander their vote. Our individual freedom allows us to do foolish things, as the Progressives among us are demonstrating in spades.
In the case of Willem’s mother, may she RIP, if Willem was truly concerned, at the end of her life, that she was incapable of filling out her ballot, he could have assumed a power of attorney and managed her affairs directly, as I did with my mother before she passed away.
Our laws are not designed or intended to benefit one person or one group over another, try as many do to take advantage. On the other hand, we, as individuals, are required to understand the law. And the Constitution provides for ‘due process’ and ‘equal protection’ when we redress our grievances. But because the Constitution protects our individuality, we each have to assume the risk and responsibility that comes with our Liberty and Freedom….which is why many people dread it.
Jay,
That is not the law
It is a gubernatorial EDICT
VT – Vermont Statutes Annotated 20 V.S.A. § 9
INTERNAL SECURITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY > PART 1. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND MILITARY AID > CHAPTER 1. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Subject to the provisions of this chapter, in the event of an all-hazards event in or directed upon the United States or Canada that causes or may cause substantial damage or injury to persons or property within the bounds of the State in any manner, the Governor may proclaim a state of emergency within the entire State or any portion or portions of the State. Thereafter, the Governor shall have and may exercise for as long as the Governor determines the emergency to exist the following additional powers within such area or areas: (1) To enforce all laws, rules,
…..etc., etc., etc……
Thank you, Jay.
With ONE virus person in ICU in Vermont, where is the statewide calamity requiring a state of emergency?
Scott should declare the state to be open for business.
There would be a joyous relief
We know how, and have the supplies, to deal with minor outbreaks, IF THEY WOULD OCCUR.
In Vermont, the virus brouhaha is grossly overdone.
The Dem/Progs and their hand-maiden MEDIA scare-mongers, are having a field day, by screwing up the peace of mind of Vermonters.
Most of the deaths were in nursing homes, and among mostly older, vulnerable people, who had other underlying conditions, such as weak heart, lungs, etc.
Are there any documented cases of a person, with a second home in Vermont, infecting a Vermonter?
Indeed, the brouhaha is overdone…to the extreme in fact. But we must understand the law in order to survive the maliciousness with which it is being wielded by a tyrannical deep state.
“A good deal of tyranny goes by the name of protection.”
Crystal Eastman
Jay, I appreciate you posting the statute content, but — with all due respect — I can find nothing within the Vermont Constitution that allows for it. The statute rather seems a contradiction to the ultimate authority. According to all articles and amendments, the only way that a governor may obtain such a carte blanche would be to bring an act before the Legislature which must be passed by a quorum of both chambers.
Jay, Here is the whole version of the VSA 20 S/S 9, show me in it where the Governor has the power to confine people to there homes? If they want to leave to go vote the decision is theirs, if they choose not to, that is their decision also. But to say it’s a law that they can’t go to a polling place is false. The Governor is asking people to stay home, the emergency powers don’t give him the powers to order them to, if they do show me where it is written. If you can I will be happy to agree with you. But don’t show a section of a law and end it with etc,etc,etc, show the whole thing if that is your proof.
Title 20 : Internal Security And Public Safety
Chapter 001 : Emergency Management
(Cite as: 20 V.S.A. § 9)
§ 9. Emergency powers of Governor
Subject to the provisions of this chapter, in the event of an all-hazards event in or directed upon the United States or Canada that causes or may cause substantial damage or injury to persons or property within the bounds of the State in any manner, the Governor may proclaim a state of emergency within the entire State or any portion or portions of the State. Thereafter, the Governor shall have and may exercise for as long as the Governor determines the emergency to exist the following additional powers within such area or areas:
(1) To enforce all laws, rules, and regulations relating to emergency management and to assume direct operational control of all emergency management personnel and helpers in the affected area or areas.
(2) To formulate and execute plans and regulations for the control of traffic and to coordinate the activities of the departments or agencies of the State and of the political subdivisions thereof concerned directly or indirectly with public highways and streets, in a manner that will best effectuate such plans.
(3) To prescribe the maximum rates of speed at which motor vehicles may be operated on any road, highway, or street in the State; prescribe the sizes and weights of such motor vehicles; suspend the application of any statute or regulation levying or assessing any license, insofar as such statute or regulation relates to the entry into or the privilege of operation in this State of any motor vehicle, including busses or house trailers, registered in any other state and with respect to which a valid and unexpired license has been issued by the other state.
(4) To employ such measures and give such directions to the State or local boards of health as may be reasonably necessary for the purpose of securing compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
(5) To utilize the services and facilities of existing officers, and agencies of the State and of the cities and towns thereof; and all such officers and agencies shall cooperate with and extend their services and facilities to the Governor as he or she may request.
(6) To use and employ within the State, from time to time, and as he or she may deem expedient, any of the property, services, and resources of the State, for the purposes set forth in this chapter.
(7) To establish agencies and offices and to appoint executive, technical, clerical, and other personnel as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter.
(8) Upon the declaration of an emergency as authorized in federal legislation that includes the State of Vermont, to cooperate with the President of the United States, the Army, Navy, and Air Force, with other federal departments, agencies, and independent establishments, and other states in matters pertaining to emergency management; and in connection therewith to take such action, not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of the State, that he or she may deem proper to carry into effect any request of the President, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
(9) To order the evacuation of persons living or working within all or a portion of an area for which a state of emergency has been proclaimed.
(10) As provided in 30 V.S.A. § 248(l), in consultation with the Chair of the Public Utility Commission and the Commissioner of Public Service or their designees, to waive the prohibitions contained in 30 V.S.A. § 248 upon site preparation for or construction of an electric transmission facility or a generating facility necessary to assure the stability or reliability of the electric system or a natural gas facility. Waivers issued under this subdivision shall be subject to such conditions as are required by the Governor and shall be valid for the duration of the declared emergency plus 180 days, or such lesser overall term as determined by the Governor. Upon the expiration of a waiver under this subdivision, if a certificate of public good has not been issued by the Public Utility Commission under 30 V.S.A. § 248, the Commission shall require the removal, relocation, or alteration of the facilities, subject to the waiver, as the Commission finds will best promote the general good of the State.
(11) In consultation with the Secretary of Natural Resources or designee, to authorize the Agency to issue temporary emergency permits, with appropriate conditions to minimize significant adverse environmental impacts, after limited or no opportunity for public comment, allowing site preparation for, construction of, or operation of an electric transmission facility or a generating facility necessary to assure the stability or reliability of the electric system or a natural gas facility. A permit issued under this subdivision shall be subject to such conditions as are required by the Governor and shall be valid for the duration of the declared emergency plus 180 days, or such lesser overall term as determined by the Governor. Upon the expiration of a temporary emergency permit under this subdivision, if any applicable permits have not been issued by the Secretary or the Commissioner of Environmental Conservation, the Secretary may seek enforcement under applicable law. (Amended 1959, No. 23, § 2, eff. March 6, 1959; 1983, No. 115 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. March 16, 1984; 1989, No. 252 (Adj. Sess.), § 11; 2003, No. 82 (Adj. Sess.), § 5; 2005, No. 209 (Adj. Sess.), § 10.)
Consider par. (9) “To order the evacuation of persons living or working within all or a portion of an area for which a state of emergency has been proclaimed.”
By ordering the evacuation of all places other than one’s home the governor can, effectively, confine people to their homes…or… force them to leave the State.
Jay, I wasn’t suggesting leaving your house was breaking the law, I was suggesting what if they passed that law? My bad in not being clear.
My point being they can and to pass laws that first go against the constitution. That they use laws to do their bidding not for justice. Not to defend your freedom. So are we supposed to obey everything they put into law? That was my point. All our laws are an interpretation of one document, our founding document, the constitution. My point being what if he said you can’t leave your house? What if he passes a law that says you have to take their vaccine and be chipped? How much are you going to take? How much sand are you going to have kicked in your face? That was my point that I didn’t make clear.
They have closed my business, I have not been fairly compensated. That is a taking without compensation.
This voting thing is a scam. So is the covid virus, time will reveal the truth. Most people can’t even see the truth because they have not been educated in how to discern propaganda and lies from truth.
Seeing my fellow Vermonters having to wait in line for food, passed out by the government looks too much like Venezuela, are we going to have a Montpelier diet instead of a Maduro diet?
Those who like to hang with the NWO are totally celebrating at this point.
Re: “They have closed my business, I have not been fairly compensated. That is a taking without compensation.”
Property tax is the most egregious unconstitutional ‘taking’. The State agrees to to a contract with taxapayers to provide services to them in exchange for their tax payments in its ‘proportional contribution clause’.
But keep in mind that 40% of VT’s workforce is employeed by the health, education and government sectors – all subsidized by taxation. Those workers, their families and associates, now constitute a voting majority. And, by virtue of majority (mob) rule, the State continually raises its required contributions while, at the same time, decreasing the services it provides.
No Taxation Without Represenation!
Vt Digger Fraud alert.
https://vtdigger.org/2020/05/14/scott-pitches-plan-requiring-school-districts-to-re-vote-budgets/
So I’m looking back at this article. They are keeping the comments “hidden”, and I up vote a couple comments. It goes from 10 to 142 up votes. Huh, they I come back to the site and has fewer up votes. Let me tell you voters are livid. They held comments for some time before posting. There is going to be hell to pay. Raise all the taxes, we with no jobs, oh yeah…..in a way this may be the very best thing to ever happen to Vermont.
Perhaps then we’ll come together?
Wait until you see how the spend the 1.25 billion dollars, you’re gonna find out how concerned they are about your health and how much they love their pet projects and lobbyists. Will they spend any money on fighting the virus? Prepping our state?
People have no idea, no idea what is going on, because they can’t see all the corruption, it’s hidden. When are our leaders a few of them anyway going to band together so Vermonters know who to support? We NEVER hear from any legislators on these news sites, only when they get interviewed for ways to steal the election…how about a bunch that say this is STUPID?
Vermonters have no idea who to support….
Went back to make sure I was correct. So I tried to vote again….it was telling me I did vote, so they have clearly messed with the numbers, because know it’s back to 10. That’s just crooked as crooked can be. They are definitely trying to control the narrative, just like any good lobbyist or propagandist.
We can have a militia without guns. It may be even more effective. People need to come together, under one flag…I’d suggest our flag not the united nations flag. This is some seriously twisted activity.
VTD’s methodolgy is blatantly corrupt. As a non-profit organization, subsidized by taxpayers, VTD is required to be non-partisan. Clealry, VTD often breaches that requirement by offending the First Amendment with ‘Content Discrimination’. I’ve accumulated specific evidence showing VTD’s breach if anyone is interested in taking legal action against VTD’s non-profit status.
I have many, many documented instances for you when you are ready to file suit. It will take much time, but let me know what and when.
Note that Digger has recently removed its ‘likes’ and ‘dislikes’ icons. Apparently, conservative viewpoints were proportionately excessive when compared to Digger’s intended narrative.
The dems cheat every way they can, from redistricting to vote harvesting to dead people voting to mail in voting! These are all crooked schemes cooked up by the democrats. It is sad that our proud home has fallen into the hands of these despicable crooks who have no respect for our rights or constitution or traditions! So many bad ideas have been transplanted through educators and idiots and crooks.
It looks like the legislature is trying to force the issue regarding mail-in, trying to steamroller Scott.
All the big guns are chining: MAIL-IN, MAIL-IN
https://vtdigger.org/2020/05/15/senate-committee-plan-would-give-condos-authority-on-election-changes/?is_wppwa=true&wpappninja_cache=friendly
CONDOS has dealt with Town Clerks for years
It is high time Vermonters start hearing opinions from Town Clerks
The more we hear from Town Clerks the better.
According to interviewed-Town Clerks, here are some astounding revelations:
1) IN MANY CASES, VALID, VERIFIED SIGNATURES ARE NOT ON FILE
2) IN MANY CASES, RECENT PHOTO IDs, COPIES OF BIRTH CERTIFICATES, AND COPIES OF CITIZEN PAPERS ARE NOT ON FILE.
3) VOTER LISTS ARE RIDDLED WITH NAMES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED AND WHO HAVE MOVED AWAY
In to-day’s world that is absolutely crazy.
First, we need to bring THE VOTER LISTS UP TO DATE for all of Vermont, before we even start thinking of mailing anything.
TSA and airlines require a photo ID before they check you in, and allow you on board.
Voting is far more important than taking an airline trip.
IF IN-PERSON VOTING, RECENT PHOTO ID MUST BE PRESENTED BEFORE VOTING
IF ABSENTEE VOTING, RETURNED BALLOT MUST BE NOTARIZED TO ENSURE THE VALIDITY OF THE
As the Democrats are exposed, nation wide, for the lying, undermining, traitorous Constitution tramplers that they are, can we really trust Condos?
What’s the fuss all about? There’s a simple solution to eliminate voter fraud in the mail in procedure. The Town Clerk in each voting district simply calls EVERYONE who has mailed in a ballot to confirm they did in fact cast the ballot. Anyone caught cheating can be referred for prosecution. What could be simpler????? On second thought, I’m sorry I mentioned this because some lame brain in Montpelier will probably try to pursue this suggestion.
That lamebrain would be Phil Scott. And you just gave him a plan.
Barre Town is having drive through Voting at their town garage, they could also mail the ballots but be required to bring the ballot to such a place as a town garage or an area where cars can line up to drop of their vote and be checked of the check list.
CONDOS has known the views of the Town Clerks for years, but he is blowing smoke regarding MAIL-IN anyway to obfuscate and deceive everyone.
It is high time Vermonters start hearing opinions from Town Clerks. The more we hear from Town Clerks the better. According to interviewed Town Clerks:
IN MANY CASES NO VALID, VERIFIED SIGNATURES ON FILE
IN MANY CASES NO RECENT PHOTO IDs ON FILE.
VOTER LISTS ARE FLOODED WITH NAMES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED
VOTER LISTS ARE FLOODED WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE MOVED AWAY
In to-day’s world that is absolutely crazy.
CONDOS HAS KNOWN THIS FOR YEARS
He is repeating the same mantras of unbelievable nonsense.
Why did he not tell his associates/supervisors/governor Scott, the voter lists are in such poor shape?
If he did tell them, why is no one speaking up?
Dereliction of duty comes to mind.
First, we need to bring THE VOTER LISTS UP TO DATE for all of Vermont, before we even start thinking of mailing anything.
CONDOS, eager beaver, was going to send ballots to everyone on all lists, all of which are likely screwed up.
CONDOS has been telling us the voter lists are fine, but Town Clerks say they are not.
If you want to do things the proper way a photo ID MUST BE REQUIRED FOR EVERYONE, NO EXCEPTIONS.
Town Clerks say, if there is fraud YOU ARE NOT GOING TO KNOW IT, BECAUSE THERE IS NO PAPER TRAIL!!
CONDOS HAS KNOWN THIS FOR YEARS
No wonder Condos has been saying there is no fraud. He does not know, and neither do the Town Clerks.
CONDOS KEEPS ROLLING OUT THE VOTER SUPPRESSION RED HERRING.
REQUIRING RECENT PHOTO IDs is not voter suppression.
CONDOS, TSA and airlines require a photo ID before they check you in, and allow you on board.
Voting is far more important than taking an airline trip.
PHOTO ID MUST BE ON FILE WITH TOWN CLERKS
IF IN-PERSON VOTING, PHOTO ID MUST BE PRESENTED BEFORE VOTING
IF ABSENTEE VOTING, RETURNED BALLOT MUST BE NOTARIZED TO ENSURE THE VALIDITY OF THE BALLOT
As they often due they give only one choice that makes sense to get what they want.
Usually they give two bogus choices along with the choice they want. However, in this instance they must get vote by mail passed immediately across the nation before people figure out what they are up to and before people realize nobody is dieing anymore.
The whole idea that this is the only solution that works is so outlandish, they can’t offer any other ideas because they are all so much better. The obvious is early voting.
Condos job is not to protect the health of people but the health of the election. He is not a doctor. Nor apparently is he concerned about election fraud, he’s giving cover for it to happen. This agenda is going on across our entire nation. Will Vermont put a stop to this?
This is where national could do well, Vermont is a small state, easily defended. Lord help us please.
If this report is accurate, according to Vermont statute, St. Albans Town Town Clerk Anna Bourdon is negligent, as is Sec. of State Condos for not prosecuting her and other negligent town clerks.
VSA T17 § 2154. Statewide voter checklist
(a) The Secretary of State shall establish a uniform and nondiscriminatory, statewide voter registration checklist. This checklist shall serve as the official voter registration list for all elections in the State. In establishing the statewide checklist, the Secretary shall:
(1) limit the town clerk to adding, modifying, or deleting applicant and voter information on the portion of the checklist for that clerk’s municipality;
(2) limit access to the statewide voter checklist for a local elections official to verifying if the applicant is registered in another municipality in the State by a search for the individual voter;
(3) notify a local elections official when a voter registered in that official’s district registers in another voting district so that the voter may be removed from that district’s checklist;
(4) provide adequate security to prevent unauthorized access to the checklist;
(5) ensure the compatibility and comparability of information on the checklist with information contained in the Department of Motor Vehicles’ computer systems.
(b) A registered voter’s month and day of birth, driver’s license or nondriver identification number, e-mail address, and the last four digits of his or her Social Security number shall be kept confidential and are exempt from public copying and inspection under the Public Records Act.
(c) Any person wishing to obtain a copy of all of the statewide voter checklist must swear or affirm, under penalty of perjury pursuant to 13 V.S.A. chapter 65, that the person will not use the checklist for commercial purposes. The affirmation shall be filed with the Secretary of State.
(d) An elections official shall not access the portion of the statewide voter checklist that is exempt from public inspection pursuant to 1 V.S.A. § 317(c)(31), except for elections purposes.
That town clerk risked her job and town standing by speaking the truth, probably one every town clerk should be awarded for. This town clerk should be our Secretary of State, NOT arrested.
The rules you speak of would put EVERY town clerk in jail. So the person who should be put in jail is not the town clerk but Condos.
I strongly disagree with you on this one.
The St. Albans Town Town Clerk may be breaking the law. Period. If she can’t exercise her responsibility and oath of office, she shouldn’t be a town clerk. Same goes for Condos and all public employees charged by VT statute. We have a rule of law for a reason.
True and we’ll die by all the rules and laws Vermont puts on it’s citizenry. She can’t do her job, because of all the laws. The laws you cite are very interesting, because it essentially asks for Voter Id.
We have a speed limit of 65 mph, it was 55 mph for awhile. Laws are made by man and inherently flawed. To not recognize the greater breach of intent is to do a miscarriage of justice.
It the law were so simple and easy to discern, we wouldn’t need 9 people on the supreme court.
Ever let your car idle? your breaking Vermont statute.
There is much more to this. You bring some very, very good points to the argument, which I might say points fingers at Condo’s for not having realistic solutions and is not currently enforcing the current statute.
This town clerk was extremely courageous for pointing out the obvious.
No one is above the law….. except Democrats when they are in charge…. and, apparently, except Republicans when they have their way…. and “…when the People shall become so corrupted as to need Despotic Government, being incapable of any other”.
As Benjamin Franklin predicted… we have arrived. Let anarchy reign.
Hey Jay,
You can’t leave your house by law? What are you going to do now? They close your business with no proof that you are ill or causing harm, what are you going to do now?
When they pass laws that go against our constitution, the laws of nature and your freedom and liberty, you gonna tell me “no body is above he law?”
When they arrest you for hate speech, how about that law? When laws conflict what are you going to do then? Every see zoning or medical rules and laws conflict?
Ever hear of process crimes? Ask Flynn about those, it’s a favorite play, written out in the hand book, Rules for Radicals in how to screw people over, by making them follow all the laws. You’ve clearly been blessed by not having to deal with attorneys and how the law is interpreted. Engineering makes sense, laws many times don’t. Careful what you ask for…you may get it.
Jay,
Now that you, and CONDOS, and thousands others, know almost all voter lists are bogus, riddled with errors, incomplete, do you think indiscriminate mass mail-ins to “every voter” is still a great idea?
CONDOS has known that for years (or should have), and many other Dem/Progs as well, and yet almost all insist indiscriminate mail-in, as proposed by CONDOS, is just fine.
Re: “do you think indiscriminate mass mail-ins to “every voter” is still a great idea?”
Are you kidding? Forgive my impatience. But when you ask a stupid question, you get what you get.
Consider my previous recommendation, Willem.
Jay Eshelman May 14, 2020 at 9:25 am
Here’s a thought: mail an absentee ballot to every voter on a town’s voter checklist – via registered mail requiring a signature from the addressee, and only the addressee. The postman/postwoman must see legitimate identification from anyone accepting receipt, as would a clerk selling beer or cigarettes. If no one signs for the ballot, return the ballot to the sender.
Jay Eshelman May 14, 2020 at 9:29 am
P.S. What happens to the ballot after its accepted is, frankly, none of our business. If the recipient is careless, allows someone else to fill it out, allows someone to steal it, or loses it…. tough luck. We can’t monitor what people do when they step into the voting booth either.
But at least we’ll know who received ballots and who didn’t.
Jay,
Condos and the rest are not interested in your recommendations.
They are only interested in indiscriminate mass mailing of ballots to whomever is on flawed voter lists.
Those lists are flawed, per interviewed Town Clerks.
Whatever happens to these ballots after is anybody’s guess.
Anyway, who gives a damn.
The horse left the barn a long time ago.
I think it is NH, Texas, Nevada, etc.
The legislators do not follow it so start with them and Condos! They took an oath and do not uphold it at all!
CONDOS knew the views of the Town Clerks, but he is blowing smoke anyway to obfuscate and deceive.
The more we hear from Town Clerks the better.
NO SIGNATURE ON FILE
NO PHOTO IDs ON FILE.
In to-day’s world that is absolutely crazy.
CONDOS KNOWS ALL THIS
He is repeating the same mantra of unbelievable nonsense.
First we need to ALL THE VOTER LISTS UP TO DATE for all of Vermont, before we start thinking of mailing anything.
Did he not tell his supervisors, the voter lists are in such poor shape?
Dereliction of duty comes to mind.
Voter lists are flooded with names of people who have died and moved away.
CONDOS, eager beaver, was going to send ballots to everyone on all lists, all of which are likely screwed up.
CONDOS has been telling us the voter lists are fine, but Town Clerks say they are not.
If you want to do things the proper way a photo ID MUST BE REQUIRED FOR EVERYONE, NO EXCEPTIONS.
The Town Clerks say, if there is fraud YOU ARE NOT GOING TO KNOW IT!!
No wonder Condos has been saying there is no fraud. He does not know, and neither do the Town Clerks.
CONDOS KEEP ROLLING OUT THE VOTER SUPPRESSION RED HERRING.
REQUIRING A PHOTO iD is not voter suppression.
Airlines and the TSA require a photo ID before they check you in and let you on board.
Voting is far more important than taking an airline trip.
PHOTO ID MUST BE REQUIRED.
Condos argues that requiring identification is “voter suppression.” Affirmative. Voter fraud suppression. In the state, in the country the majority of the voters recognize that. They want their vote to count, not to be nullified by an illegal ballot. It is more than reasonable to question the motives of anyone who wants to open the process to fraud – and to question the probity of a political party that supports it.
This makes perfect sense. What’s the point of ballot fraud if they tell you it’s what determined an election?
Like if you rob a bank, do you leave a calling card? Duh.
I served in the Senate Gov Ops with Jim Condos as vice chair my first term and then chair my second term. He always seemed to have an agenda that was above the process. Our system of government was built upon the idea that process was all that government would protect. Outcomes were not up to government, just laws for a process that does not have an agenda or favorites. Of course human nature always tries to use government to force outcomes, just like Jim Condos had done over and over during his tenure in Vermont politics. And so we have to continually fight against that and reign government back to being focused on process.
This is why “economic growth” subsidies to companies and other subsides are a bad idea. They beg for abuse.
Mark
Thank you for that comment I have been smelling a rat for a long time. The unreal repetition of Inane mantras are agenda driven, not process driven. No wonder he is in a hurry to get the go-ahead to print ballots for INDISCRIMINATE MAIL-IN. He does not want delays, because they would bring sordid facts about voter lists to the surface, as we just saw. We need more Town Clerks to speak up so the nonsense mail-in brouhaha gets blown out of the water for good. Vermont should be a leader with the cleanest voter rolls in the US.
Seems like this is a dismal assessment of this man’s character! Not someone I want in a top office, and no wonder our judicial is so evil.